ICE Angels report best year ever in 2013

Auckland based
angel investment network the ICE Angels announced today that
2013 has been the best year on record. Members of the ICE
Angels collectively invested $7,890,819 into 26 companies,
positioning the network as one of the most active in the
world.

This figure is nearly double the overall amount
invested in 2012 and 2011, representing about a 20% increase
in market share by the ICE Angels.

In 2013, the ICE Angels
hosted 10 investment events featuring 39 investment pitches.
More than half of these companies successfully attracted
investment. This success rate is both an improvement over
previous years and is on par with the leading angel networks
around the world.

The ICE Angels also inducted 37 new
investors last year including global CEOs, exited
entrepreneurs, and professional investors. Adam Clark, the
founder of mCom and an early graduate of the Icehouse’s
incubator, is one of a number of new members that have
joined the network following successful careers overseas.

Ken Erskine, Director of Startup and the ICE Angels at
The Icehouse, believes there are a number of reasons behind
last year’s success.

“To begin with, greater
coordination with other investment groups around New Zealand
has worked well to enable more startups to raise more
money”.

The ICE Angels syndicated with Sparkbox,
Stephen Tindall’s k1w1, Movac, AngelHQ, Arch Angels, the
Enterprise Angels, and many others throughout last year.
They also provided angel funding to four startups that
received seed funding from the Global from Day One Seed
fund.

“We’re also excited by the effectiveness of the
new initiatives we launched in 2013, which better engage
investors and entrepreneurs. The Lead Investors Forum - a
full day workshop involving 20 investors and two startups -
resulted in both companies securing the funding they
required,” Erskine continues.

“Our activity has also
received a boost on the back of a lot of good news coming
from both our portfolio and the broader startup market.”

The ICE Angels have invested in 55 companies
since being founded by The Icehouse in 2004.

Approximately 80% of these investments were made in the
last five years. This increased engagement and investment,
according to ICE Angel’s advisory board member, Mark
Wynne, is only the start of good things to come.

“The
outlook for 2014 is already looking good. We’ve met with
dozens of fascinating startups and have already invested
nearly $1m in companies including Eftplus. We’re also
excited by the changes and enthusiasm in the market. The
sign off of crowdfunding by the government opens the door
for many more kiwi startups to raise seed funding and
we’re looking forward to getting involved with those that
require further funding and expertise.”

“All in all,
I think kiwi startups and angel investors have a lot to look
forward
to”.

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